WESSA Annual Review: 2022-2023

Sustainable utilization of natural resources

WESSA highly appreciates the dedicated, passionate efforts of its voluntary staff, primarily the Environmental Governance Committee (EGC) members, who contribute extensive and valuable hours of expertise to responding to issues (such as the Karpowerships, mining, strategic development frameworks, dams, seismic surveys, marine protected areas (especially for penguins), and nuclear build proposals); as well as researching position statements, some of which have received extensive coverage through Daily Maverick or been presented at Parliament Portfolio Committee hearings. The Advocacy Unit is also intimately involved in a number of conservation collaboration, policy and strategic actions, such as representing WESSA on the IUCN SA National Committee, the (conservation) NGO Alliance and 3 of the task teams heading up South Africa’s commitment to achieve the global target of 30% of land and marine spaces conserved by 2030 (the 30x30 Protected Areas target of the Global Biodiversity Framework). This work is expected to connect with our volunteers and staff conservation and advocacy activities, especially citizen science projects, Friends Groups, biodiversity stewardship and conservancies. The Advocacy Unit is a cost centre under WESSA Support Services. Traditionally WESSA has struggled to raise dedicated funding for its core advocacy work. The Advocacy Unit will be marketing advocacy-related training courses, will fundraise specifically to afford attendance at key conferences (such as COP28), support conservation projects and will be investigating certain donor funding avenues to offset some of our staff and operating costs.

Pollution and Waste

Conservation

A core objective for the Environmental Governance (EGC) over 2023 is the revision of nine (9) key policies:

Marine living resources Water Management

Landuse and Agriculture

Energy

Mining

Climate Change

Each policy is led by a development team, who will be canvassing experts and our members and supports, in reflecting on and discerning the objective, scientific, transformative and strategic intent of each policy, to promote our actions under our three themes. We look forward to your support and involvement in this development course as we seek to advocate, educate and act.

© Andrew Baxter

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